Carnival Fun

Our favorite local toy store hosted a carnival in their parking lot this morning. All games were $.10; rides were $.20. We all loaded our pockets with dimes and headed over for a good time. Micah and Jonah were especially adept at the games; Autumn figured a couple out as well. But, no matter what the outcome, they were awarded a prize after every turn. Did I mention this is our favorite toy store??

It's like riding a bike...

Riding without training wheels has eluded 6 year-old Jonah up to this point in his life. We gave it a good shot last summer, but he was unstable on our driveway and sidewalks. He wiped out a couple times, then begged for his training wheels again. Then, at our four year-old nephew's birthday party, we watched as he rode a two-wheeler for the very first time...on their lawn. We decided this would be the perfect way to make attempt #2 at liberating the "Red Rocket" from those pesky side-wheels.

He started out in the backyard grass:


After several trips back and forth, he felt ready to give the dreaded cement-covered ground another shot. Nervously, he set out to conquer fear:


After a few trips around the house, he gained confidence and momentum. He spent the rest of the evening circling our house, always ending with a speedy decline down the hilly lawn of the backyard. Watch how easily he looks up for the camera without losing his balance:


He went to bed lamenting the fact that he couldn't spend more time outside riding. Way to go, bud!!

A new and improved entryway

I don't know if you get the full effect of the state of affairs with regard to our columns, but they had really become quite an eyesore. A real embarrassment to our fine, upstanding neighborhood.



One man, some tools and a can of Latex paint, and things are looking up again.

Ahhh...now that's better. Thanks, honey!!!!!!!!!!

It's a Wonderful Life

We found a beautiful campsite this past weekend, and had a wonderful time hanging out as a family. There was a gorgeous lake small enough to take a nature walk around, a little snow for the kids to toss at each other, majestic pines and -the best part- NO ATVs!! We were having such a good time that I neglected to break out the camera except to take these two shots (but you understand, right??):

Jonah "Pyro #1" hamming it up for the camera. I swear that the boys' main attraction to camping is the campfire (and I'm talkin' all the boys!) Luckily, we escaped without any burns or forest fires. Autumn looks like she's selecting an appropriate potty site in the background. In reality, she was checking to see if a squirrel would come back out of his hole.

Can we say PRINCESS?? She's a much higher maintenance camper than the boys (i.e., she needs propping up when she squats, which was not the highlight of the trip for me), but she still had a great time! Camping to Autumn means hanging out in the tent as much as possible, so she opted out of S'mores in order to get as much camping time as possible... singing all alone in a dark tent. Odd, I know!